Fee Agreement

Fee Agreement & Engagement Terms

Non-Attorney Legal Support Services  ·  Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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The above-identified Client (“Client”) and Discovery Analytics for Family Law (“Service Provider”) hereby enter into this Fee Agreement and Engagement Terms (the “Agreement”), effective as of the date last signed below. Client hereby agrees to compensate Service Provider in connection with the document services matter described herein and in any attached Scope of Work.

1. Scope of Services

Service Provider provides non-attorney legal document support services to attorneys, paralegals, and self-represented litigants in family law and domestic relations matters. Services may include, but are not limited to: (a) document management, organization, indexing, and production inventory preparation; (b) review and summarization of discovery productions, financial disclosures, tax records, bank statements, real estate records, business valuations, medical records, and related evidentiary materials; (c) exhibit binder preparation, Bates-stamp coordination, and trial exhibit organization; (d) forensic financial document comparison, discrepancy flagging, and timeline construction; (e) digital communications review; (f) case chronology and annotated timeline preparation; and (g) consultation and advisory services. The specific services shall be set forth in a written Scope of Work, which is incorporated herein by reference. Service Provider reserves the right to decline any engagement or task at its sole discretion.

2. Non-Attorney Status; No Attorney-Client Relationship

Service Provider is not a licensed attorney and does not provide legal advice, legal representation, or legal opinions of any kind. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the practice of law or creates an attorney-client relationship. Service Provider is an independent contractor. Client is strongly encouraged to review all work product with a licensed Massachusetts attorney before relying upon it in any proceeding.

3. Fees, Billing, and Payment Terms

3.1 Hourly Rate. Services are billed at $150.00 per hour. Time is billed in minimum increments of one-tenth (1/10th) of an hour (six minutes).

3.2 Billable Activities. Billable time includes: (a) review, organization, indexing, and analysis of all documents sent or received; (b) drafting of work product, reports, chronologies, summaries, correspondence, and memoranda; (c) telephone conferences and calls (minimum 1/10th hour per call); (d) writing, reviewing, and responding to emails and text messages (minimum 1/10th hour per communication); (e) office conferences and strategy sessions; (f) preparation for meetings and presentations; (g) travel time where applicable; and (h) any other time reasonably and necessarily devoted to the Engagement.

3.3 Onboarding Session. A non-refundable case review fee of $75.00 is required for a 30-minute onboarding session prior to commencement of any Engagement. This fee is credited in full toward the first invoice of a retained Engagement.

3.4 Payment on Account — Retainer Required Before Work Commences. Client shall pay a retainer deposit in the amount specified in the Scope of Work prior to the commencement of any substantive work. Because of this advance payment, Service Provider agrees to provide services in connection with the Engagement. The retainer shall be applied against invoices for services performed and against costs and disbursements. If the retainer is exhausted, Service Provider may pause work until a replenishment retainer is received. Any unused balance shall be refunded within 14 days of written notice of termination or completion.

3.5 Costs and Disbursements. Client agrees to pay for all out-of-pocket costs and disbursements incurred by Service Provider, including printing, copying, courier, postage, software licensing, and other case-related expenses, itemized on each invoice.

3.6 Invoicing. Invoices are due and payable within seven (7) calendar days of issuance.

3.7 Late Payment. Overdue invoices accrue interest at 1.5% per month (18% per annum). Service Provider may suspend services immediately upon non-payment with no liability for delays resulting therefrom.

3.8 Collections. Client shall be responsible for all reasonable costs of collection, including attorneys’ fees and court costs.

4. Confidentiality and Work-Product Protection

Service Provider agrees to hold all documents, data, and materials provided by Client in strict confidence and shall not disclose such information to any third party without Client’s prior written consent, except as required by law or court order. All deliverables and work product shall, upon receipt of full payment, become the property of Client. The obligations of this Section shall survive termination for a period of five (5) years.

5. Limitation of Liability

Read carefully. This section limits Service Provider’s liability and affects your legal rights. Service Provider does not guarantee any legal outcome. Service Provider’s total cumulative liability for any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees actually paid by Client during the three (3) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim. In no event shall Service Provider be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages, including without limitation lost profits, loss of data, or damages arising from adverse legal outcomes.

6. Indemnification

Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Service Provider from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) Client’s use or misuse of any work product; (b) Client’s breach of this Agreement; (c) the outcome of any legal proceeding in which work product is used; or (d) any misrepresentation by Client of Service Provider’s role, qualifications, or independence.

7. Term and Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement upon five (5) business days’ written notice. Service Provider may terminate immediately upon material breach, including non-payment. Termination does not relieve Client of any payment obligation accrued prior to the effective date. Sections 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9 shall survive termination.

8. Representations and Warranties

Client represents and warrants that: (a) Client has full authority to enter into this Agreement; (b) Client’s use of work product will comply with all applicable laws and court rules; (c) Client will not represent to any court, tribunal, or opposing party that Service Provider is an attorney or that any work product constitutes the legal opinion of a licensed attorney; and (d) Client will promptly notify Service Provider of any court order, subpoena, or legal process directed at Service Provider’s work or records.

9. General Provisions

This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Any dispute shall be submitted first to non-binding mediation in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction in the state or federal courts of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations and understandings. No modification shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties. Electronic signatures, including those submitted through this web form, shall be deemed valid and binding to the same extent as original ink signatures.

We, the Client and Service Provider, have read the above Fee Agreement, understand its terms, and have each signed it as our free act and deed.